She won’t be confused for on the basketball court, in the classroom or walking across campus.
At 6’4 Desert Vista junior center Kristine Anigwe usually stands out in a crowd.
The Cal Berkley commit is averaging around 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks a game for the state’s top team Division-I team. The deep, balanced and to this point unbeaten Thunder have been getting in done in a big way in part by doing the little things, Anigwe included.
“She’s willing to do whatever it takes to win,” first-year DV head coach Jontar Coleman told Sports360AZ.com. “She [does] a lot of things effectively. Defensive rebounds, a lot of blocks.”
Coleman, who took over on an interim level last season, has seen a transformation from Anigwe from her sophomore to this her junior season. She’s playing with more confidence and has taken on more of leadership role on a roster littered with players both younger and more experienced.
“I want to become more of a diverse player,” Anigwe explained after DV’s hard-fought win over Ahwatukee rival Mountain Pointe. “Driving [more] and [improving] my free throw percentage.”
She said she’s happy to have the recruiting process behind her and believes becoming a Golden Bear was the “best fit” for her moving forward.
For now she’s putting the future on hold and hoping the Thunder make more noise than last season’s second-round state playoff loss to eventual champion St. Mary’s.
Eric Sorenson
